Best of the Vanguard Years (CD - 2000)

Includes liner notes by Todd Everett.

Personnel: Tom Paxton (vocals, acoustic guitar); Eric Weissberg (guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin); Steve Goodman (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Gary Mure (drums); Angel Aallende, Ray Mantilla (percussion); Nancy Lee Baxter (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Todd Everett.

Photographers: David Gahr; Sherry Rayn Barnett.

Although he's since become best known as a children's folk singer, with album after album of songs for kids to his credit, when Tom Paxton first appeared on the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early '60s, his wry, often very funny, satirical songs were definitely aimed at adults. 2000's BEST OF THE VANGUARD YEARS is a much less comprehensive collection than the title might indicate; the singer/songwriter only recorded three albums for the venerable folk label, 1963's live NEWPORT BROADSIDE, 1977's NEW SONGS FROM THE BRIARPATCH and 1978's HEROES. This is a fine collection regardless. The 1963 tracks, recorded at one of the most legendary editions of the long-running Newport Folk Festival, are early Paxton at his best, from a sterling "Ramblin' Boy" (backed by Pete Seeger on banjo) to the scathing and hilarious talking blues "Talking Pop Art" and "Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation." Of the later tracks, most of which feature the great Steve Goodman on guitar, the celebratory "Did You Hear John Hurt?" and the vituperative "Anita O.J." are the highest of the many high points. minimize